» You should always contact Paws & Purrs directly to request upcoming cat sitting visits. You may text or call our main number (770-235-6785), or send an email to Shannon@pawsandpurrs.com. Please be sure to include your name, start and end dates, departure and return information (dates and approximate times), if and when medications are to be administered, and if any changes have occurred since our last visit (such as feeding routines, new/different medications, changes in health status, locks or codes changed, etc.). » Our cat-friendly answer is that it depends on your cat! For a typical household, we allocate 10 to 15 minutes to complete our chores (food, medications, litter, water, etc.), then our remaining time is spent interacting with your cats. However, if your cats are not interested in playtime on that particular day, then we wrap up our visit. A standard visit usually takes 20 to 30 minutes. » If your sitter becomes ill, or has a family emergency, we will attempt to contact you and let you know that a backup sitter will be covering any affected visits. You always have the option to secure your own backup for the remaining duration of your trip but, if you do so, we will be unable to share care and information, or facilitate home access, for liability reasons. » We do not typically charge for last minute or emergency visit requests, nor do we typically charge for cancelled visits. However, if a client continually abuses these privileges, we retain the right to charge appropriate fees (see Policies for more information). Our cat sitters are happy to accommodate visit requests whenever they can, so we just ask that you give us as much notice as you can, and contact your sitter as soon as your return home safely. » We currently accept cash or checks. » While we do strongly encourage annual checkups with a qualified veterinarian, we do not require that your cat be current on vaccinations. » We cannot guarantee an exact time that your sitter will be caring for your feline family. However, we will do our best to keep your kitties on a schedule similar to the one they are accustomed to with you. » For safety reasons, we strongly discourage allowing indoor/outdoor cats to be allowed outside during your absence. It is quite possible that your cat may not initially trust or feel comfortable with your sitter, and will not come inside when called. It then becomes a huge risk to leave your cat outside overnight, when nocturnal predators (such as coyotes) are hunting. » We make every attempt to stay abreast of any impending weather events and plan accordingly. We will leave out extra supplies (food, water, etc.) and blankets in case travel to your home is not possible. » Vacuum cleaners are viewed by most cats as "scary monsters that make scary noise". As such, we find that vacuuming hurts the trusting relationship that your sitter is trying to form with your kitties. If litter boxes are not located in a carpeted area, we tidy up around them daily with a hand broom and dustpan. » If your alarm is tripped unexpectedly, you should ask your alarm company to alert the local police and have them assess the situation. Once the police have cleared your property, and confirmed that no one has accessed your home, then Paws & Purrs may be able to stop by and check on the kitties. We must always think "safety first" - we are no good to your cats if we walk in on armed thieves. » We like to plan 35 to 55 minutes for new client Meet & Greets. We enjoy meeting you and your kitties, and we want to make sure that their needs will be met while you are away. It is always our hope for the owner of Paws & Purrs, as well as your cat sitter, to be present during this initial visit, so that you get a chance to meet us, ask pertinent questions, and feel comfortable with us and our services. » It is our company policy to not "share care" with other individuals or companies, as this only serves to confuse all of the caregivers involved as well as the cats. For liability purposes, this also includes family, friends, and other hired services (such as cleaning services, repair services, etc.). » Your sitter will send you a text message (or call or email if you cannot receive texts) after our first visit, to confirm that all is well, and to clarify any issues/questions which may have arisen. After that, your sitter may only contact you if she has questions, concerns regarding the health of your cat, or wants to share an adorable photo of your kitty. We truly understand that these are your fur babies, and that you miss them dearly while you are away, so feel free to check in with your sitter periodically for updates.How do I schedule future cat sitting visits with my sitter?
Alternatively, if you are an existing client and have already accessed your account in our software system, you may submit your request there, as well as update any information which may have changed.
We also ask that you provide us with basic flight details and trip itinerary (if applicable), especially if you are travelling overseas, so we can anticipate any issues which may prevent your safe, scheduled return.How long will you stay at each visit?
What happens if my primary cat sitter is suddenly unable to make a schedule visit?
Our scheduling software allows us to see when visits are completed; therefore, if a visit is "missed", we are alerted and backup procedures can be implemented quickly.What happens if I need to cancel a visit, or even an entire trip? Will I be charged a fee?
How and when do I pay for services? Who should I make a check payable to? Should we leave a tip for our sitter?
Our policy is to obtain payment at the time of services rendered; therefore, if possible, you should leave cash or a check for the sitter to pick up on her first visit, or schedule an online payment to be completed/authorized upon your departure. However, if payment is not secured before you return, we will send or leave you an invoice to be paid upon your return. Checks should be made payable to Paws & Purrs.
Tips are always appreciated, but never required or assumed. 100% of your tip amount goes directly to your cat sitter.Does my cat have to be current on vaccinations?
Georgia state law, however, requires that all companion animals be current on rabies vaccinations. If your cat is not vaccinated, and he or she bites your sitter, you could be faced with hefty state fines and/or the state-mandated quarantine of your cat for many weeks.Can I request that my sitter make visits at a specific time, such as 6:15 am or 7:45 pm?
Morning visits will be completed between 6:00 am and 8:00 am; Evening visits between 4:30 pm and 10:00 pm; and Anytime visits between 7:00 am and 9:30 pm. Twice a day visits will be roughly 12 hours apart, give or take an hour or two. Once a day visits will occur during the same time block each day, so will be 20 to 24 hours apart.
Special consideration is made for cats who are on time-specific medications, such as insulin, blood pressure regulating meds and cardiac support meds. Please let us know what time you typically give those medications so that your sitter can plan accordingly.Will my cat sitter let my cats out in the morning, and bring them back in at night?
If you choose to go against this policy, Paws & Purrs cannot be held liable if your cat does not return home, or sustains any injuries due to encounters with motor vehicles, neighborhood dogs and cats, wild animals, etc. If such an injury does occur (and your sitter is able to get your cat into a carrier for transport), Paws & Purrs must then take your cat to the ER for potentially costly life-saving treatment.What happens in the case of a snow or ice storm, or other natural disaster?
We strongly recommend that you have a "Plan B" strategy in place - such as a neighbor with key access who could provide basic care for your kitties until the roads were clear. In some cases, your primary sitter may be unable to reach your home, but a backup sitter could potentially be able to care for your furry felines. We have found that it is always better to plan ahead, and anticipate the worst case scenario!Will you vacuum after each visit, or before we return home?
If my alarm goes off unexpectedly while I am at work, can my sitter go to my home and check on it?
How long should I plan for the initial Meet & Greet? Will I get to meet the owner of Paws & Purrs, or just our new cat sitter?
In order to expedite our meeting, we ask that you print and complete all of our new client forms (service contract, policies page, and liability waiver) prior to our meeting. Please note that if the allotted time is exceeded, there may be a small charge for any additional time.My neighbor likes to stop by occasionally to visit with my cats while I am out of town. Is that OK?
In order for Paws & Purrs and your sitter to maintain consistent, reliable care for your cats while you are away, it is extremely important for your sitter to be able to observe and track all variables, such as how much food and water is being consumed, litterbox activity, attitude of cats, etc. This helps us to identify potential illnesses more quickly, and to maintain a safe and secure environment while we are caring for your feline family.Will my sitter call, text, and/or send pictures at each visit?
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Specializing in In-Home Cat Sitting and Feline Hospice Care since 1997
